Match Preview: Saints Vs Bray Wanderers

St Patrick's Athletic return to SSE Airtricity League action for the first time in 2017 as they host Bray Wanderers in Richmond Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

St Pat's manager Liam Buckley will be hoping his side can open the season with a win against the Seagulls following a recent 4-0 away win over the same opposition in the Leinster Senior Cup.

In team news, the Saints' manager confirmed to stpatsfc.com that he has no injury concerns, however defender Rory Feely misses out through suspension.

"We're all looking forward to getting up and running.

The hard work throughout pre-season has all been for this game and the the league season ahead so naturally everyone is keen to play, prove a point and get off to a good start," Buckley told stpatsfc.com.

"We played Bray recently, however we cannot look into that game too much as circumstances and team selections will differ for Friday's game.

We're expecting a tough start, but we're hoping to improve on our home form from last year as we felt we didn't perform to our best in Inchicore last year. "

"Opening night of the season means we'll have a good crowd down so hopefully we can get three points." For Pat's winger Conan Byrne, the 2017 season is one he has been particularly looking forward to as the Dubliner looks to improve on the season the Saints had in 2016.

"You always like to start the season with a home game no matter who it's against. We've already forgotten about the win over Bray in the cup recently.

It won't be the same type of game at all. "Our plan is continue our positive pre-season, pass the ball well, press as a team when we don't have it, keep more clean sheets, improve our set pieces and keep our attacking play at the level it's been at in recent years.

"If we do all that we'll have a great chance, and that's not just in the Bray game, that's in the whole season."